Show Jumping

Marcus Ehning Qualified to Open a Swiss Bank Account This Weekend

Show jumping maestro and model of German efficiency, Marcus Ehning, banked over 600,000 Euros in Geneva today. So, just your average Sunday for the show jumping legend.

The world number four ranked rider won the Rolex Grand Prix at CHI Geneva, Switzerland, logging his second Major of the 2018 Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping season.

Aboard the prophetically named Pret a Tout (whose name translates to “ready for everything”), the Olympic, World Equestrian Games and European team gold medalist topped an 11-horse jump-off set by Gerard Lachat (SUI) and Louis Konickx (NED). Riding spectacularly tight turns, fast foot speed and a tidy jumping style, Ehning and the 15-year-old chestnut gelding stopped the clock in 38.41 seconds.

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, winner of Friday’s Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, was the only other rider to crack the 39 second mark with a clear. But he and Bianca still finished nearly half a second behind Ehning in 38.86 seconds.

In addition to bragging rights, the victory earned Ehning 400,000 CHF (approximately 350k Euro) in prize money PLUS a 250k Euro bonus for winning two legs of the Rolex Grand Slam within 12 months. Ehning previously captured the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in July. But he retired in the CN International at the Spruce Meadows in September, forfeiting the three-in-a-row bonus of 1 million Euros. Wie schade!

Ireland’s Darragh Kenney and Balou du Reventon took third with a clear in 39.38 seconds.

The next leg of the Rolex Grand Slam with take place at The Dutch Masters in March 2019, where Ehning and Egypt’s Sameh El Dahan, winner of the Spruce Meadows leg, will take up the chase for the coveted bonus money once again.